Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The plans illustrate the layout of a harbor in 2000 and its present scenario.
Overall, in the past, there used to be unused castle at the south-east of the harbor, which is now used as hotel. Public beach just near the castle is replaced by private beach. Moreover, several facilities are added in present like, passenger ferries, showers and toilets, cafes and shops.
In 2000, there were only two passenger ferries, however it has been added in present and it is three in number. There is public beach as same as in the past at the north-east. While the place for fishing boats and for the marina (private yachts) has been exchanged as compare to the past.
Several facilities have been added in current time such as cafes and shops, numbers of showers and toilets next to the car park at the west of the harbor. Road and the mainroadn
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the harbour plans, noting the conversion of the castle, the change in beach status, and the addition of new facilities. However, the report is incomplete as it ends abruptly mid-sentence ('Road and the mainroadn'). Furthermore, the description of the fishing boats and marina is confusingly phrased as 'exchanged as compare to the past', which lacks clarity. While the overview identifies key changes, the lack of a proper conclusion and the unfinished nature of the final sentence prevent a higher score. To improve, ensure all features are described clearly and the report is fully completed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Moreover', and 'While'. However, the flow is hindered by the abrupt ending of the text. The referencing is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression is interrupted by the incomplete final sentence. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring that each paragraph has a clear concluding thought and that transitions between sentences are smoother and more natural.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'illustrate', 'layout', 'passenger ferries', and 'facilities'. However, there are some awkward collocations and phrasing, such as 'present scenario' and 'it has been added in present'. The word choice is somewhat repetitive, and the spelling error 'mainroadn' detracts from the overall quality. To improve, aim for more precise vocabulary related to describing maps and changes, such as 'transformed', 'converted', or 'relocated', and ensure careful proofreading for spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'unused castle' (missing article), 'as same as in the past' (incorrect comparative structure), and 'numbers of showers' (unnecessary plural). The final sentence is incomplete, which is a significant grammatical failure. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors and the lack of sentence completion limit the score. Focus on mastering articles, comparative structures, and ensuring all sentences have a subject and a verb.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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